CMC gave her confidence to enter the “real world”

What Annie Raines ’22 learned at Claremont McKenna College goes beyond academics—way beyond. Raines, who dual majored in economics and history, feels not only prepared for her career as an investment banking analyst at Citi in New York City, but also confident she can handle whatever the future holds. CMC was her training ground for the real world in all its facets.

“I was given a platform to try new things, make mistakes, and build resiliency to become a better version of myself,” Raines says. “I learned how to step outside my comfort zone and accept new challenges, no matter how daunting they may seem. In short, I have gained new confidence, perspective, and friendship that will inspire me for life.”

Four years ago, though, Raines was on pins and needles. She wanted to attend CMC because of its small class sizes, career placement success, and global alumni network, while she was also enticed by the orientation camping trip, the Athenaeum, and Claremont’s proximity to both the mountains and the ocean. But she was waitlisted.

Then the good news arrived. “I was ecstatic to be accepted. I wanted to surround myself with ambitious go-getters that not only work hard, but also prioritize having dynamic social lives.”

While Raines made lifelong friends from around the world, was enriched by her classes and intellectual discussions across the CMC community, went on outdoor adventures with CMC clubs, and even learned to sail in a CMC PE class, she was surprised by one thing: how easy it was to build relationships with professors.

“CMC professors are approachable and engaged with the lives of students both in and out of the classroom,” she says. “After taking my first Middle Eastern history class at CMC, Professor Heather Ferguson invited the entire class over to her house and cooked Middle Eastern food for us. After my first government class, Professor Jon Shields took the class out to lunch in the Claremont Village. Finance Professor Peter McAniff took time outside of class to help me prepare for a job interview.”

Professor Ferguson had a particularly strong influence. “Professor Ferguson’s introductory history class, Muhammad to the Mongols, is the reason that I declared a history major my sophomore year,” Raines says. “She challenges students to question their preconceived notions about the world and presents engaging questions that pique the curiosity of all students. Every time I left Professor Ferguson’s classes, I saw the world in a new way.”

Now Raines says she aspires to be an impact investor. “I hope to address social and civic challenges in communities around the world. Impact investors can support public efforts to construct affordable housing, healthcare facilities, and schools, among other things.”